What does sanctifying grace feel like ?
Sanctifying Grace comes by faith not feelings. There are many parts to sanctifying grace and so one example is not complete. However,
the Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22;
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control,
reveal sanctifying grace is at work !
A sermon by John Wesley that helps with understanding sanctifying grace.
Praying w/ Sanctifying Grace
Ask God to reveal to you the areas of your life that are in the process of sanctification.
A handout, The Spiritual Elements table for the school of prayer lists behaviors that are spiritual inhibitors and this might help identify some issues. Pray over the issues listed to see if any are slowing you down. Remember sin blocks your ability to see the help and salvation God has for you.
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Praying w/ Sanctifying Grace
One of the Sanctifying Grace hymns in the Hymnal is “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”.
Words by Edwin Hatch 1878 provide a wonderful prayer to be offered for sanctification. This is a great prayer hymn to keep replaying in your mind throughout the day.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew.
That I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.
Breath on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure.
Until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure.
Breath on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine,
till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.
Breath on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die,
But live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.
Sanctifying Grace prayer acknowledges the presence of God as you go through your day.
The fruit of the spirit elevates, and that which is not of God to falls away.
The things that start falling away or diminishing are, envy, jealousy, materialism, selfish views of life.
The things that gain ground are The fruit of the spirit being, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control”.. Galatians 5:22.
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Praying w/ Sanctifying Grace
You can and should spend time in prayer with any of the instituted means of grace to help further this cause and in fact you absolutely should engage all the means of grace; communion, fasting, scripture meditation, worship, and small groups to advance the sanctifying grace to a point of perfect love , perfect joy, and perfect peace. Just knowing that you can move through the graces of prevenient, justifying , sanctifying and perfecting should help to keep your curious desire going for more. The honest desire to want to be closer to God propels you forward. God greatly honors the honest desire to know Him !
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Tips for how to recognize an answer to praying with sanctifying grace, are multi faceted but a few simple examples would be when you notice that a specific hindrance has been removed. For example: I know many people who have had a drinking problem and the desire to drink has been completely removed.
Another example is the breakthrough of one of the fruit of the Spirit that you become aware of in your soul. Some people face horrendous trials but God puts Love, Joy or Peace in their soul when the natural man is terrified on the outside. Any number of circumstances like situations where everybody else has given up but you have patience born of love is an answer to praying with sanctifying grace. Maybe God answers with a generosity through you that doesn’t make sense to the casual observer.
Suggested readings include, Steven W Manskar's, Accountable Discipleship: Living in God's Household.
Here is a link to a seven minute sermon on sanctifying grace.
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After reading "Entire Sanctification John Wesley's View then listen to "Holy Holy Holy"
What does Sanctifying Grace Sound Like? A first person sanctifying grace song that can be sung as a prayer to God in the sanctifying grace portion of the Methodist Hymnal is "Breath on me breath of God" #420 . Click on the link just below.
A skit to help explain the difficult part of sanctification. The great part comes when after the chisel the fruit of the Spirit emerges greater than ever !
link to Holy, Holy, Holy coming
Small Group Recommendations;
JOHN WESLEY PROVIDED THE METHODIST BAND MEETING FOR THOSE WITH SANCTIFYING GRACE.
See: the Rules of the Band Societies
TODAY: Recommended place for sanctifying grace,
12 Step Study or
a Covenant Discipleship group using as a covenant "the rules of the band societies", by John Wesley
A way to start a group for men is to get "The Man in the Mirror" book by Patrick Morley and start a discussion group.
Another way to practice confession, repentance, and accountability is to go to a counselor.
Food for Thought-
Sanctifying Grace what is It ?
Where is Sanctifying Grace in the Bible?
What does Sanctifying Grace sound Like?
Where is a Sanctifying Grace sermon?
Who has a Sanctifying grace testimonial?
Books helpful for Sanctifying Grace
Free small groups for Sanctifying Grace
How to pray for Sanctifying Grace
How to pray with Sanctifying Grace
Sanctifying Grace comes from the Holy Spirit to transform your character.
"Let no sin have dominion over you", has been repeated often by many Christians.
This comes from Romans 6:14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." KJV
Sanctify: 2. To purify in order to prepare for divine service and for partaking of holy things. Webster's dictionary 1950
A player on a sports team may have a complete game. Never the Less, the best players sometimes slip and fall, but they get up. Does this mean he/she will never commit a foul ? No, but this player has no glaring weakness the other team can exploit. Do not have habitual sin the devil can exploit.
The less sin has a hold on you the more the Spirit has a hold on you.
Everybody wants Love, Joy, and Peace in their life. This can be found in sanctifying grace and is frequently referred to as
"The Fruit of the Spirit". Galatians 5:22-23
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance
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Suggested Scripture Readings;
The Book of Galatians from the Holy Bible.